Higher Home-Insurance Rates
May Be Next Southeast Storm

This season's three hurricanes -- and another brewing in the Caribbean -- are almost certain to mean higher home and auto insurance rates for residents in Florida and Alabama, the hardest-hit states.

Policyholders in other Gulf Coast and Southeast states, too, could see higher rates. One reason: State-run insurance pools, now large players insuring homeowners who can't find coverage elsewhere, need to replenish their coffers. They do so by charging other insurers doing business in the state. Those private-sector insurers...